Idea: Block anyone who hasn't Ascended from entering Droknar's Forge

Simple idea, and I'm sure its been talked about in the past.

Really I'm seeing an increasing number of people who are first time players being run to Droknar's Forge and then having no idea what to do, where to go, and wondering why the level 18 mobs outside keep beating them using high level skills.

The point is I think low level runners to Droknar's should be stopped. But only if its their first character. Sure once you have ascended one character then Droknar's Forge should be opened globally to any new characters you make.

But new characters shouldn't be allowed past the south portal exit from Beacon's Perch, the game should stop them, plain and simple.

This idea people who are running a new character can do so no problem, and newbies will be keep on the normal path through the game.

I'm not a programmer, but would that only entail coding a line (or however many) on a person's account/first character to the Forge to insure they'd have future pre-emptive access?

Crazily enough, it was my mesmer Briallan who got to the Forge first the old-fashioned way........and she's the sixth one to hit lvl 20! I didn't set out specifically to get the 'best' armor (used Desert collectors until I got there); when I touched down at Beacon's if there was a runner doing a practice/test run, I'd tag along just for fun. Not much of that anymore and with good cause.

With so many people now thinking that being run everywhere and through everything is the normal way to play, I'm not sure how many players would be lost altogether. I agree something needs to be done, though. I was in Augury the other day and someone wanted a runner to UW, and yesterday I was in Druid's and someone "needed" a runner to Dragon's Lair!!!!!!

Recently I ready a Guild Wars review (if I remember the link I will post it). In the review, the topic of running was discussed. ANet replied that running was part of the game - if they didn't want people running, they would have nerfed it. I think the best thing to do is to let the noobs get run to Drok's; it's their fault if they ruin the game for themselves and have no idea what to do.

I thought the passes and stuff were for a group high levels to for a challenge to try and get to a place without missions not for whammos and Rhammos (w/mos and r/mos) to run a level 1 to near endgame.

Let them get run if they want. These lvl 1 guys that are going out and getting beat on by the lvl 24 mobs arent making it harder for anyone, are they?
I personally think it's unnecessary to take offence at someone being under level 20 in a certain place. So I have my lvl 12 N/R in Droknars Forge. Why does that bother you so much? It does happen to be my 7th character you know...

All I'm saying is that personally, I find it a tad repetetive to go through ascencion etc again. It's not like I use my necro very often anyway, I much prefer playing an ele.

The Forge, near end-game? Not hardly.

Nearer than the Maguuma or Kryta or even the Crystal Desert, but not end-game.

Also, not all lvl <20 people in droknar got run there from Beacon's. I personally got runned to desert on my monk (note: the monk being my 10th char), and ascended at lvl 7, resulting in me being lvl 14 at Dragon's Lair. I still remember one of the W/Mo's I teamed with asking "monk why are u lvl 14?!".

People who don't listen...
Once again, he mentions to cut off people who are on their first character. I know many people who think the Droknar's Run is part of the game because once they hit Beacon's all they hear is running. Then they go earn an easy 2-3k or even get a free run to Drok's. I myself got run after beating the game with a first character. But many of these people don't know how to play their class properly because they either skipped almost half the game and its lessons or because they are used to tanking low level mobs with their drok's armor.

Glad someone read it and didn't just blindly post.

Yes people who have already ascended on other characters shouldn't be forced to do it again, since it does take a fair amount of time. Basically my idea is that new players should be blocked from running, this means anyone using their first character.

/notsigned

No character who isnt ascended should be let in.
Its why the Ascalon Arena sucks. Everyone takes their second, third or fourth characters, gets run to Droks and f's up the arena for all the first timers.

When I see a level 3 in 15K armor, I get pissed off. I dont care if you've worked hard on your first character and gotten the money for it. It basically is like saying you dont have to even try to work for things on any of your other characters.

To get around the problem mentioned somewhere above about your first character not neccessarily being the first character on your account that ascends, it would be a simple matter to have one boolean variable tied to a players account. By default it is false. When the player hits ascention on any character the variable is changed to true. Never can it be set back to false. If the variable is true, the Drok's run is open. If it's false, the Drok's run is closed off.

The only draw back to this is if you get a second account you will have to run to the desert and get run through ascention once... not a big problem at all.

Edit: Since I didn't exactly make it plain: /signed I think this is a wonderful idea that would prevent new players from having the game ruined for them, while not penalizing older players who don't want to grind anymore. Contrary to what some would like to believe, new players who get a run to Droks aren't often ruining the game for themselves; they're having it ruined for them by more experienced players spamming Beacon's Perch incessantly about runs. If you don't know there's any option besides a Drok's run, how exactly are you supposed to choose to play the game normally?

I was about to suggest what Jenosavel said, but he beat me to it.

I agree wholeheartedly with not allowing first-time characters to do the run, simply because it ruins the game for them (not just the story, but the lessons that levelling up against monsters who can kill you will put in your head). But looking at it the other way as well: there are two ways to get to Droks: the run, or ascending and doing Dragon's Lair. While the longer run is mainly called 'powerlevelling' (in my experience)(since you get them to face their level 20 mirror self, they get a bunch of XP from that, as well as the bonus for ascending), it does require a little more skill -- as you have to defeat your mirror self. While the mirror self isn't necessarily that difficult, it poses a problem for first time characters who haven't used their character to its full ability.
Hence why, in my opinion, the other major reason for getting run to Droknars came about: people who got run from Ascalon to the desert couldn't defeat their mirror, so they wanted better armour (just like the necros who can't stand up to warriors in Ascalon arena).
But even at that, there are so many friken guides on how to beat your mirror self all over the place, making it simple enough for the new players to make cookie-cutter builds and beat him.

So, if you're going to block the Droknar's run, you should probably also look at the longer run. Both affect game experience for new people.

Good point Ristaron. But its getting silly the number of new players who get to Droknar's and are unable to buy the armor or items there. Its a waste of time, and really they shouldn't be there.

/signed

It's bad enough when you've got to worry about experienced players getting to droknar more early than they need to. It's horrible when you've got new players who do the same. Especally in the arenas. Whenever I go into the yak's arena, I assume at least half my matches will be lost because the advantage of them having a runner is too much to overcome.


Here's another thing to stop runners: make armor and maybe weapons level based. You shouldn't get the benefit of max armor and max weapons until you are, say level 16.

IMO theres nothing wrong with low lvl ppl being anywhere. chances are if they gotta run to droks there not noobs. there not hurting anybody, so why bother writing a rant about it?

/not signed


Really think about it. If Anet did not want people going from Beacon Perch to Droknar... why would the path even exist to begin with? Honestly what would be the point of needing a path for those ascended people to go from Droknar to Beacon Perch? They could just map it.

Yeah explain that

"Signet of Massive Approval"

Newbies do not belong in Droks, period.

The idea is a good one, however, I don't think it's your position to "fix people's games so they play them 'the right way'" (I'm absolutely sick of hearing the "right" way to reach forge. Shove it, already.)

However, your idea is of an anti-runner stance, though instead of simply blocking running, you want to block running of people new to the game. And for that, I give a big

/notsigned

we were all newbies at one time and have done noob things.

However I had my first character run to Droknar and every character since then. I've beaten the game, completed every quest and mission I could find (currently working on titan and SF missions however) Did I lose any aspect of the game by getting run? I don't believe I did. I still relied on skill and tactics while clearing the maps knowing FULL well that the best armor does not make one immortal. And everyone who reachs maguma jungles with droknar armor knows it pretty much doesn't matter what you got... poison still hurts like a bitch.

/signed

I like Guild Wars don't get me wrong, but the storyline and cut scenes are nothing to write home about, but I think everyone that does PvE should go thru the game at least once before getting rushed. If your really in to PvE then this shouldn't be a problem, if your not then there's always PvP.


As far as people getting droks armor and going to ascalon arena, I don't see a problem. You don't get fame, you can't win hoh, so it doesn't affect the balance of the true PvP environment. I've taken maxed weapons and droks armor in the ascalon arena, and it wasn't that big a deal. Skill > Items. I earned time in the game with over 1400 hours played, I think you should be able to do what you want in PvE if you've put in your time and played the game. If your new and you think it's not fair, then play random arena in PvP where its more balanced.